AS6920 Owners Lounge

Probably not - the GMA X3100 on the 6920 is pretty anemic when it comes to gaming, regardless of whether it's running on 64-bit. If it was going to be able to play these games, it would be able to do so on your current system.

Sorry TKS, but unless you're willing to use that money towards selling your current laptop and getting one with a dedicated graphics card, you're stuck with the performance you have.

 

hi, anyone trying out windows 7, what graphics drivers are you using? trying windows 7 v7077 and laptoptogo 181.71 causes bsod
seems it happened to a lot of others also -
new inf released today does the trick
http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=23265
will do some speed tests later, will it beat xp32?

 

Im sorry, even if you upgrade to 64bit and extra 2gig of ram it won't really make a difference for COD4/WOW.

I was like you 2 years ago. I thought upgrading ram would make my computer faster and be able to play high end games. I was wrong.

 

so i was about to hit the 'buy now' button on fleabay for an A312 assuming it was better than A306 and A301 (higher number ) but noticed that they are different animals. can someone explain in very quick simple terms what the specs mean?

Avermedia A301 Mini Pci-e TV FM NTSC ATSC Tuner Card
Analog TV PAL/SECAM/NTSC (Worldwide)
Digital TV DVB-T
Avermedia A306 Mini Pci-e TV FM DVB-T Hybrid Tuner Card
Analog TV Worldwide Analog Access
Digital TV DVB-T
Avermedia A312 Mini Pci-e TV FM NTSC ATSC Tuner Card
Analog TV NTSC
Digital TV ATSC

OR: what else could i usefully plug in to a Mini Pci-e slot?

 

It's all about the broadcasting standards. NTSC/ATSC and PAL/DVB-T are used in North American + Japan and Eurasia, respectively.
More details can be found on Wiki.

I personally just use a Hauppauge HVR-950Q USB tuner.

 

I know this is a stupid question but is the Acer 6920's GPU upgradable, I know the processor is.

 

In theory, yes. The 6920G is equipped with an MXM-II card, which can be upgraded.
The Radeon HD 3650 is assumed to be compatible, and as noted above, gazzacbr was able to upgrade to a GeForce 9600M GS (the first to do so, I do believe). The 9600M GT is a little hit-or-miss unfortunately.

Actually, something just struck me. Gazza, the 9600M GS is just a downclocked 9600M GT (430 core vs. 500, 1075 shaders vs. 1250). You could probably get similar performance with a little bitty overclock, or heck, even 9650M GT levels (550/1325)!

 

Wow thanks TehSuigi!

 

Hey, it's what we do around here.
Stick around once you get the system, too.

 

I will, and do you know approx. how much money would it take to upgrade the processor (in Canadian Dollars), and is the 9500M GS somewhat like the 9600M GS? If not what is the difference?

 

How much? I spent $200CAD on eBay to get my T8300, plus about $10 for the tube of thermal compound I used.

The 9500M GS is an improved version of the older 8600M GT.
The 9600M GS is part of the "true" 9 Series, with a revamped core, albeit at lower clocks. However, as I mentioned above, it's all too easy to OC to 9600M GT or 9650M GT levels. Try to make sure you get one with GDDR3 memory too (more bandwidth).

 

what's the big difference with the T8300?

The one im getting has DDR2 SDRAM.

 

The difference between the T8300 and what you're getting is twofold:
1. It's based on the newer Penryn core instead of the older Merom core. That means it runs faster, cooler and with less battery power.
2. Upgrading the CPU also bumped my Front Side Bus to 800 MT/s from the 667 MT/s it got with the T5550. My RAM speed didn't improve (the chipset is still limited to DDR2-667), but at least all my components can talk with each other faster.

And when I was talking about GDDR3 memory, I was referring to the GeForce 9600M GT's VRAM, not the system's RAM (hence, GDDR3).
The 6920G has DDR2 for its system RAM and on the GeForce 9500M GS as its VRAM.

 

It says NVIDIA GeForce 9500M GS with 512MB dedicated memory and up to 768MB (shared) memory.

 

Yeah, exactly. The GeForce 9500M GS has 512MB of DDR2 memory dedicated solely for its own use, and can use up to 768MB of system RAM if it needs it (which is almost never).

 

Kk, but is it worth it to upgrade, and where could I get the upgrade?

 

Worth it? Not really - it seems the faster memory only helps in benchmarks like 3DMark06. You can get decent gains just from overclocking the 9500M GS.
Where? eBay.

 

KK, Im not willing to buy over eBay anyway

 

I have a couple of questions about the standard 6920, not the G version.
1. Does acer ever update their drivers? My card reader was not working the other day, I updated the drivers with the most recent version from the manufacturer, and it started working.
2. Does acer ever update their software? It cant really be that good that it never requires updates.
3. When I go to the American acer site, there is no bios updates, but there is a bios update on the European site. What gives? Does acer think Europeans are more competent than Americans when it comes to flashing a bios?
4. On the European site, only the directory for the 6920G has drivers, software, and bios updates. The only thing in the 6920 directory is the manual. I'm sure the software is the same, but what about the bios. Will the v1.10 bios work on the standard 6920?
5. Why is everyone so hesitant to flash the bios. I have never bricked a laptop flash when its plugged in to power, apps closed, and use the manufacturer provided update software. Is there something fragile about the bios and bios update process that makes it more susceptible to this problem?
6. Is there any benefit to updating the standard 6920 to the v1.10? I am currently running the factory installed v1.06.

 

1. Rarely. When you first get the drives from Acer I suggest you update from the devices manufacturer. This doesn't apply for the soundcard driver if you have the Tuba subwoofer.
2. Rarely. Read the above.
3. Acer European site has always been the most updated one. I suggest you get drivers and applications from there. They should work just fine.
4. Yeah all the software and almost all the driver are compatible with 6920 and 6920G. The same should apply with the BIOS.
5. If you do it right then I see no problem. But as you know sometimes the system may crash for no reason. What if it happens during the update?
6. No idea. Calling 6920 owners.

 

has anyone managed to get the cinedash to work properly with winamp?

i enabled global hotkeys, but it's still very glitchy...

when i press 'play', it will sometimes work but the cd/dvd drive selector will also come up
'next' and 'previous' make winamp skip and go crazy...

 

I don't have this laptop yet but I would rather not mess with the cinedash, but have you tried googling your problem?

 

yeah i got it to work with winamp
this is the thread where i got the info from:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=297269

 

Hey, guys I was looking through sites and I came upon a MSI that was a bit lower in price than the Acer. So I asked the people of NBR and they said the MSI is better so that is probably my other laptop.

Sorry

 

Hey, that's your prerogative.
The 9600M GT is certainly one slick little card, especially with GDDR3 memory.
Hopefully, you can inspire a little bit of the NBR-Acer spirit over on the MSI subforum.

 

Lol k, I am still thinking about it, it's quite hard to pick I have heard that the MSI was a perfect laptop for me, but the thing is that it can have some problems and it has bad speakers/volume AND it gets quite hot.

 

That's true - the speakers on the 6920G are quite possibly the best I've heard on a laptop. That Tuba bass booster really does a good job.

 

I know, for gaming the MSI for the Acer a bit more entertainment orientated, so I might go for the MSI cause I might do a lot of gaming and that 9600M GT will serve me well for sometime.

 

I connected this laptop to my HDTV with HDMI cable. When I watch a video the picture is just terrible. I tried adjusting the output screen etc, but just can't get good picture. It's like chunky ugly, nowhere near HD. This laptop is useless for playing blue ray on HDTV.

 

Are you sure? Check this problem on google I doubt that could happen.

 

GuardianFlash - Have you checked the display properties settings on the 6920 to ensure the HDMI connection has set the output resolution of the display to a suitable native resolution for your connected HDTV, you might need to set this up manually, not all HDMI ports report this information properly.
Also, I have not tried Blu-Ray disc yet but I have streamed 1080p HD video from my hard drive. The quality was superb but only once I made sure the anti-virus was not actively scanning at the time, just something to bear in mind.
I have an 8930G but the experience ought to be similar I would have thought.

 

That's weird. I have used my 6920G to play Blu-Ray on my parent's 70" Sony TV via HDMI with no quality issues.

 

Hey, I might not be able to get the laptop since it's in US. SOOO I might stick with the Acer

 

hi folks, just back from my hols. 9600m GS that i have in my lappy has 256 DDR3, i assume that makes the big difference from 9500GS. crysis warhead is playable at medium settings. i did o/c std 9500 to nearly same as 9600 but was running quite hot (80C ish). maybe try o/c the 9600 sometime but i am happy for now. it came with acer bios and was no brainer to install which suited me

 

Remember Gazza, you can OC that 9600M GS to performance levels close to or matching the 9600M GT and 9650M GT, since your card has the same number of shaders.
(I know, it's strange to see a GS model that isn't in someway gimped compared to the GT)

 

Oh no they discontinued the laptop now I am going to check both staples store near me tomorrow so I could probably reserve it

 

hi, so far not been able to overclock anyway tried rivatuner and vista 64 with 179.48 which o/c before but settings will not stick
could bios be locked, if so, any way to unlock?

 

Why don´t you consider the Aspire 6935G?

 

Its too expensive and It's hard to find one in Canada

@gazza I think I have heard a problem like yours on this forum but does this help http://www.notebookreview.com/searc...000000;GFNT:666666;GIMP:666666;FORID:11&hl=en

or this

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=374372

Sorry if it didn't help

 

Help plz! I installed the new Windows 7 RC and now Cinadash Media Console won't work! I'm talking about the blue volume control on the left side of the laptop, they won't work! I already installed launch manager from acer website and still won't work. I even unplugged the cable for like 10 seconds, and I don't use battery. Nothing seem to work. I don't want to restore back to Vista cause Windows 7 rule. The volume control on the left is so useful, I can't live without it.

 

@JVlichael, thanks. i did a search before but went round in circles
will try again tonight with evga - shader, then memory then core.
@GuardianFlash, i have v7077 64bit just installed and no problems with cinedash, everything working (same sometime ago with original 7000 release). have you had it working on a previous release of win 7? would RC be that much different? i use launch manager and official sound drivers from acer. maybe you can try re-install?

 

Do you think if I install Windows 7 DC 64bit would solve the problem? I am currently using Windows 7 RC 32bit. I tried installing launch manager but it says not supported or something, and then an option popped up saying reinstall using recommanded settings/this software installed correctly so I picked to reinstall and it installed.

 

I think you need a certain amount of memory to install the 64bit version, I think it's 4GB+

 

You don't need that much RAM to install it - 64-bit Windows will still run on 1GB or more - but the rationale is that without 4GB of RAM, there's no real need to move to 64-bit.

 

i am using "Dritek_Kilimanjaro_v2.0.00_Vistax32x64_XPx32x64" from acer site
ftp://ftp.work.acer-euro.com/notebook/aspire_6920G/vista/Drivers/
and have used same for vista 32 (came with lappy), xp32, vista 64bit and win 7 64bit, are you using the same? i have not tried win 7 32bit or an RC version.

 

I downloaded and install Windows 7 RC 64bit over Windows 7 RC 32bit and then installed the audio driver and launch manager for 64bit vista from the acer website and now the volume control/play button all working now!

I have a major problem now, laptop would freeze randomly. I solved this problem with vista by changing iaStor/parameters to iaStor/parameters.bad. On Windows 7 RC there is no such folder as iaStor, only iaStorV in regedit. I changed iaStorV/parameters to iaStorV/parameters.bad and the freezing still occurs on Windows 7 RC. I did massive googling and no luck. Someone suggested updating some kind of storage device or something, but I don't know what to do.

Edit: Installed Intel Matrix Storage Manager. I hope it solved the problem.

Edit Again: No more freezing issue after installing Intel Matrix Storage Manager, woot woot.

 

maybe more work has gone into 64bit win 7. my 64 bit vista on last lappy for 2 years has been a whole lot more stable than the 32 bit which came with this lappy, see sig. make sure you have all the drivers from the acer site. not sure which ones are which but i just load all of them, some say not needed. welcome to the world of 64 bit!

 

HI

I just bought a 6920! I love it!

The only problem is :

1. The Tuba thing doesn't work? I tested it with the 5 speaker test, but the subwoofer never made a sound? Is there somehow I can fix this?

edit: ok the new(old) drivers I got from the ACER site seem to have done the trick, bass speaker makes a noise now but still pretty lame! is there a bass setting somewhere?


2. THat e button in the top right hand side, whenever I press it nothing happens?!

3. Don't you find that the keyboard pad "gives in" when you type?


Can any one help? Thanks so much


I just have the default settings from ACER, vista home premium, 32 bit.


p.s. ahh crap, I didn't have a disk to make the original backup but I did go to Acer site to download the new audio drivers and installed it, except the new driver is actaully OLDER! ARgh!!

 

Go to sound under control panel/hardware & sound and you can change the speaker's bass level by adjusting the natural bass. I have mine at 6. Don't change the settings to 5.1, just stay at stereo.

Freezing problem still occurs on my 6920. There's no way for me to fix it on Windows 7. I think I might go back to Vista. Does anyone know the model of the HDD?

 

Use HDTune to see model of the HDD. Mine is WD3200BEVT.